Shelby GT500 Super Snake ‘Need For Speed’ Edition Up For Auction

The Carroll Shelby Foundation, along with Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. and Shelby American Inc., both wholly owned subsidiaries of Carroll Shelby International Inc., have teamed up with Electronic Arts Inc. to put enthusiasts in the driver’s seat of a special 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake – ‘Need for Speed’ Edition. This Shelby is featured on the cover and in the game of EA’s new Need for Speed™ The Run game, which will hit stores during the 2011 holiday season. A special ‘real-life’ one-off version was built by Shelby American Inc. and Shelby American Motorsports, which features custom EA designs and true Shelby performance. The GT500 Super Snake – ‘Need for Speed’ Edition will be auctioned in late 2012 to generate funds for the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

“We’re excited to team with EA and have the chance to bring this car to life,” said Jenni Shreeves, executive director of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “A number of EA’s games, like ‘Need for Speed’, help so many kids get through long stays at hospitals. We’ll also be able to raise awareness of the Foundation’s efforts worldwide through the amazing events the vehicle will travel to throughout the year. Not to mention, when we auction this custom ride, someone will have an amazing car in their garage and feel the satisfaction of helping kids.”

The “Need for Speed” experience came to life on Sept. 27, when media from around the world experienced the car first hand. They drove it, along with other Shelby vehicles at an event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Shelby American facilities during EA’s gaming showcase in Las Vegas. Following its debut, the Super Snake will travel around the globe, making appearances at major automotive and gaming events.

“EA is a trendsetter in the interactive entertainment industry, always pushing gamers to the limit,” added John Luft, president of Shelby American. “The Shelby GT500 Super Snake is a great fit for their high-performance ‘Need for Speed’ franchise. Built by the Shelby American team and customized by the Shelby American Motorsports division in Las Vegas, this Super Snake matches the one envisioned by EA for the cover of their latest game, moving a car designed for the virtual world onto the streets. From the bodywork to the interior, this Shelby is the only one of its kind.”

Over the past several years, Carroll Shelby Licensing has worked closely with EA to integrate Shelby cars and marques into various games. From the Shelby GT500 Super Snake to the Shelby Terlingua Mustang, gamers enjoy the opportunity to drive the car of their dreams in the virtual world thanks to this relationship.

EA is a leading global interactive entertainment software company that develops, publishes and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Need for Speed™ The Run will be available in stores on Nov. 15, 2011. For more information on Need for Speed, visit http://www.needforspeed.com.

For additional information about the Carroll Shelby Foundation, as well as the auction of the 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake – ‘Need for Speed’ Edition, log on to www.cscf.org. Enthusiasts can learn more about the Carroll Shelby brand and Super Snake post-title packages at www.shelbyamerican.com or www.shelbylicensing.com.